Leith

Leith is a unisex given name derived from a Scottish surname, which itself originated from the name of a town (now a district of Edinburgh) located on the Water of Leith. The place name comes from Scottish Gaelic lìte, meaning "wet" or "damp".

Origin and Etymology

The name Leith is ultimately linked to the Water of Leith, the river that flows through Edinburgh and empties into the Firth of Forth at Leith. The area's Gaelic name Lìte likely references the dampness of the locale. The surname Leith emerged from this place name, and later became used as a given name.

Notable Bearers

• Leith McMurray (born 12 August 1921 – 10 February 1975), an Australian politician.
• Leith Mullins, a South African actor and theatre director, known for work in the 1940s–1970s.
• Leigh Anne Tuohy's son (fictionalized in The Blind Side) bears the middle name Leith.

Cultural Significance

The town of Leith, historically a burgh independent from Edinburgh until 1920, has deep ties to Scottish maritime trade. The name Leith thus evokes coastal and seafaring imagery, alongside its original "damp" meaning.

Related Names

Related surnames include Leithe and, by shared etymological origin, other Scottish toponymic surnames like McLeith.

• Meaning: Wet, damp (from Gaelic place name)
• Origin: Scottish (from place name Leith)
• Type: Given name (unisex)
• Usage Regions: English-speaking world, especially Scotland